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Impact of dyslipidemia type and atorvastatin on serum phospholipid essential fatty acid composition
Author(s) -
Hansen Susan N,
Harris William S
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a1120-b
Subject(s) - dyslipidemia , atorvastatin , medicine , phospholipid , arachidonic acid , composition (language) , endocrinology , chemistry , coronary heart disease , cholesterol , biochemistry , obesity , enzyme , linguistics , philosophy , membrane
Omega‐3 and omega‐6 essential fatty acid (EFA) serum levels have been variously associated with risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). The factors that affect serum phospholipid (PL) EFA composition are not well‐described. Statins reduce risk for CHD, and one of their effects could be to alter EFA composition. Different dyslipidemias are also associated with differences in CHD risk, and this may be partly mediated by effects on EFA status. In this study we examined the effects of dyslipidemia type [combined dyslipidemia, isolated hypercholesterolemia, and atherogenic dyslipidemia (elevated triglycerides and depressed HDL‐cholesterol)] and of atorvastatin (10 mg/d) on the EFA composition of serum PL. Forty‐five dyslipidemic patients (n=15 of each type) were recruited. Serum samples were taken after a 4‐wk placebo run‐in period and again after 8 wks of atorvastatin treatment. PL were extracted, separated by thin layer chromatography and analyzed for EFA by gas chromatography. We found no clear differences in EFA composition of serum PL across the three dyslipidemias. The only effect of atorvastatin was to slightly increase the PL arachidonic acid content (11.3±2.4 vs. 12.7±2.4%, p<0.002; n=45). Thus, serum PL EFA composition is not markedly affected by alterations in lipoprotein patterns or by treatment with atorvastatin. Further research on the determinants of PL EFA content (notably diet) is warranted.